El Aventurero

This is a unique film on a unique novel. It is Joseph Conrad's only historical novel and it was the last novel he completed. It is a Napoleonic novel, but the main story here is not about political intrigue and rivalry between French and British interests, that's only the superficial frame of a much more interesting relationship of an old man coming home with the sea, which he has been roaming for 30 years and now seems to definitely leave behind. But political pettiness and shortsightedness intervene and directs his destiny off course into a very unintended direction. It's a psychological investigation of destiny and its always unfathomable ways in interfering with man's intentions. Anthony Quinn makes a fantastic performance of a very melancholy puppet in the hands of an incalculable destiny, and Rita Hayworth is surprisingly good as an experienced woman trying to sedcure him in reality. Richard Johnson is perfect as the French naval officer navigating the political adventure, and they actually all fail in their purposes, which makes even this historical novel very typical of Joseph Conrad. Ennio Morricone has furnished the film with one of his finest film scores, and the natural settings are overwhelmingly beautiful. This is above all a very beautiful film and as such a rare gem in the treasury of Terence Young's vast and very diversified production.